Nem allowed herself to be led to a pale pink bedroom, which seemed already prepared for a little girl. A Disney Princess cover and pillow dressed the bed. Dolls and toys sat carefully arranged on shelves, inviting her to play.

Peg, now standing behind her, gave Nem a nudge into the room.

“This is yours while you’re with me. Dolls. Teddies. Not sure what size pajamas I have, but we’ll find something for you.”

Nem had no desire to play with any toys in the room and she didn’t care about pajamas.

“Shall we take your little kitten first and give him some food? Bet you’re hungry too?”

Nem surveyed the room. How could she escape and find her mom?

But Peg might be right. Patch would be hungry and, yes, her stomach had growled too.

She pulled Patch even tighter to her body but nodded her agreement.

The woman took her to the kitchen and gave Patch a bowl of milk with breakfast cereal.

“Sorry, I’m ill-prepared for a kitten but tomorrow I can buy pet food.”

Peg made toast with peanut butter and Nem ate like she hadn’t eaten in days. She refused to speak even though Peg kept talking to her and asking silly questions like how old she was and if she liked any TV shows. She continued to eat her food while staring at Patch eating. Her thoughts were that Peg would eventually tire of her and go away.

She did for a moment but returned with pajamas that were too big. But she did let Patch sleep in the bed. So she wasn’t a terrible person and Nem thought maybe tomorrow she would answer her.

Just before turning out the light, Peg said, “If you need me, I’m in the next room. Just call out, won’t you darling?”

Even though she seemed kind, Nem still didn’t acknowledge her. Instead, she rolled over and stared at Patch, who had settled himself below her pillow. She heard the door close and continued to stroke his back. The softness of his fur and watching him fall asleep comforted her.

Why hadn’t they mentioned her mom?

The thought of her mother, alone in the hospital, made her stomach churn. Although, if she had needed an operation, she might be sleeping now.

Tomorrow she’d ask to see her mom but right now she was so tired she could barely keep her eyes open. No sooner had she closed them than Nem drifted into a dream.

She was in a garden playing with Patch. The dolls, which had been perched on the shelves in the room, hung from the surrounding trees, connected by colorful strings. They looked beautiful, but she sensed them watching her as if they were alive.

Her father, who she’d never met but like in all dreams she just knew it was him, appeared beside her. From his pocket he pulled a slingshot and loaded the band with a small, round pebble. Then he smiled at his daughter, took aim at a sweet doll with blonde hair and curls, and let the projectile fly. The targeted doll fell and as the toy hit the ground, its head shattered into a million pieces.